34 1 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 19, 
Injury from Frosted Comb. 
When a cockerel’s comb is frosted, does 
it impair the breeding qualities of the fowl, 
temporarily or permanently ? e. j. g. 
Huntington, N. Y. 
The frosting of a cockerel’s comb is 
only a temporary injury, and will impair 
the bird while he is suffering from its 
effects, but does not permanently injure 
his breeding qualities. Severe freezing, 
such as will disfigure the bird, sometimes 
seems to take the heart out of him, and 
he would better be discarded, as it takes 
a long time to recover; besides you do 
not want a disfigured bird around a 
breeding pen anyway. f. q. white. 
Taming a Broom Sedge Sod. 
P. F. 8.j Prince George Co., Mil. —Having 
purchased a farm Which has about 30 acres 
of broom sedge sod (old Timothy sod run 
out) ; as I was unable to plow last Fall, I 
would like to know if the following plan 
would work well: Flow now as soon as I 
can, turning under broom sedge, leave un¬ 
til May. Then sow 500 pounds of raw 
bone per acre, on the furrows; harrow in 
and plant corn shallow, by opening fur¬ 
rows with shovel plow and covering with 
harrow. Then continue to harrow until 
corn is large enough to cultivate; or would 
it be better to put in cow peas this year 
and corn next? I am advised to burn the 
sedge off, but am such a humus crank 
that I hate to do so. What is your advice? 
Ans. —Never burn off any vegetable 
matter that can be plowed under. Broom 
sedge grows on land that has become too 
acid for clover or other crops, and you 
will find that after plowing it there will 
be a great improvement made bv spread¬ 
ing 25 bushels of slaked lime per acre, 
and harrowing it in before planting the 
corn. I think that it would be best to 
plant the corn this year and get the sod 
well decayed. Then just before the last 
working of the corn sow cow peas 
among the corn, using a variety like 
the New Era that does not run much, 
and cultivate these in with the last cul¬ 
tivation of the corn. Then when the 
corn has been cut off and shocked you 
can disk the peas down and sow Winter 
oats in September, with a good applica¬ 
tion of acid phosphate and potash or 
acid phosphate alone at rate of 300 
pounds per acre. Or you can disk the 
corn stubble well and seed to wheat 
later as you choose. w. f. massey. 
Failure With Cow Peas, 
C. K., Granite, Va .—In the Spring of 
1909 I sowed about two acres in cow peas. 
They came up very well, looking tine and 
grew vigorously until about three inches 
high, when they began to decline grad¬ 
ually until the last plant was gone. Could 
you give me any explanation why the peas 
would not prosper, and grow to maturity? 
Ans. —There may be several reasons 
for the failure of the peas. It may possi¬ 
bly be from lack of inoculation with the 
bacteria that live on pea roots, though 
it is hard to find any land in Virginia 
that is not supplied with these for the 
cow pea. It is far more probable that the 
land needs phosphoric acid and potash, 
and you do not say whether you fertil¬ 
ized the peas or not. Perhaps you sowed 
them too early and they got chilled, for 
peas of this class will not thrive under 
cold conditions in the soil. Try sowing 
the same land this year after harrowing 
in 300 pounds of acid phosphate and 25 
pounds of muriate of potash per acre, 
after harrowing in 20 bushels of slaked 
lime per acre. Cow peas do better than 
other legumes on land that is slightly 
acid, but on very sour soil they will not 
thrive, as the bacteria will not live in 
an acid soil. w. f. massey. 
More About that Lime Spreader. 
G. C. B., Toicanda, Pa. —1. I am going to 
make a lime spreader after the description 
that C. S. Greene gave in The It. N.-Y. Will 
you ask him to explain how he can put his 
spreader in and out of gear with the 
ratchets in the hub? Any mowing machine 
that I ever saw puts in a«d out of gear 
at a point far from the hub. The ratchet 
in the hub is so the machine can back up 
without turning the gearing backward. 
Every thing else is very plain, but I can¬ 
not see through the in and out of gear. 
C. W. P., Antrim, N. H. —2. On page 191 
are directions how to build a lime distribu¬ 
tor. Can this machine be used in spread¬ 
ing all kinds of chemical fertilizers? What 
length would be advisable on a rough farm, 
and what would be the approximate cost 
of a local blacksmith making same where 
one already owns a discarded mowing ma¬ 
chine? 
1 . The ratchets in the mowing ma¬ 
chine wheels are simply used to turn the 
axle around with the wheels. When not 
in use the wheels turn on the axle like 
ordinary wagon wheels. Perhaps you 
have a machine which has enclosed 
ratchets in the hubs, which, if used for 
a lime spreader, you could not put out 
of gear. While you could use a machine 
of this kind it would not be as conveni¬ 
ent as one which you could start or 
stop the feed by simply adjusting two 
spring catches on each wheel. The 
method of putting a mowing machine in 
gear for mowing grass has nothing to 
do with the lime spreader, as the ratch¬ 
ets in the wheel turn the axle and that 
is all that is required. 
2 . This machine can be used for any 
kind of dry commercial fertilizers which 
are required to be sown broadcast. For 
rough land I prefer a machine with a 
total length of about nine feet. The 
cost of a machine of this kind depends 
to a great extent upon the quality of 
the material and workmanship, which 
varies in different localities. A good 
blacksmith should do the iron work for 
$10 to $15. C. S. G. 
Tue Strawberry Tomato. —Anent the 
Wonderbcrry controversy, my experience 
with another plant may be of interest to 
you. In the Spring of 1903 I purchased a 
few seeds of a so-called strawberry tomato 
from Hammond Brothers, of Michigan po¬ 
tato fame. The seeds grew in spite of 
carelessness and adverse conditions, and 
from 14 plants which I was curious enough 
to plant, I harvested one-half bushel of 
fruit. The remainder of the fruit (esti¬ 
mated by my gardener as four bushels) 
was left on the ground, owing to pre¬ 
occupation of help in other quarters. The 
harvested fruit was a deep purple in color, 
and was covered with a husk or pericarp. 
No one who tasted the fruit dared swallow 
it—in fact, it tasted somewhat as I imagine 
the Wouderberry does. From that time 
my garden has not failed to produce thou¬ 
sands of plants of that tomato every year, 
and none has been allowed to blossom ; 
but at what cost! I am watching to see 
when the vitality of that seed plays out. 
I am wiser now! f. v. petit. 
Massachusetts. 
It. N.-Y.—And let those who have planted 
Wonderberries “wait and see” what fol¬ 
lows in the weed line. 
A Friend of Ben Davis. —I have been 
reading an article in The It. N.-Y. by II. E. 
Van Deman in which he “knocks” the Ben 
Davis apple, and I have read similar knocks 
on old Ben before. I once heard J. H. 
Hale say any man who would plant Ben 
Davis apple or Kieffer pears ought to be 
shot. I have six Ben Davis trees just 
coming with full bearing. I picked last 
Fall about five barrels of as good lookers 
as you ever saw, and they are now good 
to eat raw, baked, stewed or between 
two layers of pie crust. 1 sold a bushel 
to local market man at 75 cents, and the 
next day he said he wanted all 1 could 
spare at that price. 1 picked from one 
tree about a bushel of Kieffer pears, left 
them in a cool cellar until mellow, and 
then my wife put them into glass jars 
and we like them as well as or better than 
Bartlett, and we claim to know a good 
thing to eat when we taste it. 
Connecticut. frank c. dowd. 
It. N.-Y.—“Every man to his taste!” 
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Everyone is interested in having good 
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J. B. COLT CO., 23 BARCLAY ST., NE 
SWIFT’S 
ANIMAL 
Active all 
the time. 
Too Much Emphasis 
cannot be laid upon the fact that the fertilizer nearest to nature, or nature’s 
manure, will prove the most reliable and profitable. _ 
That is why Swift's Fertilizers are so much in demand—so satisfactory. 
They are crop producers as well as soil builders. They leave the soil in 
excellent condition for later use after first crops have been removed. 
For this reason they are active all the time. Be sure you use them. 
Swift—Superior—Sure 
“I have conducted an experiment with 
over ri) varieties of potatoes to ascertain 
the best yieldcr. Swift’s Superior Fertilizer 
lias given glorious results in spite of the 
driest season known in tiie century. Yield 
460 bushels per acre of handsome salable 
lotatoes. After many years’ trial with 
.afferent kinds, your fertilizer gives me the 
best results, and it conserves moisture 
even in periods of drought.” 
[Signed] Rev. J. It. Lawrence, 
Kaynliam, Mass. 
I 
•‘It gives me great pleasure to state that 
I raised one of the finest crops of corn on 
Swift’s Fertilizer this season ever pro¬ 
duced on World’s End Farm. The yield 
was more than 95 bushels shelled corn per 
ac re. 
Have used these fertilizers to my entire 
satisfaction the past ten years, and will use 
them extensively this coming season.” 
[Signed] C. R. Goodhue, Supt., 
World’s End Farm, 
Hingham, Mass. 
One of tin? vital demands upon you is to enrich the soil and maintain its 
fertility. To do this economically and successfully simply insist upon using 
Swift’s Animal Fertilizers. They cost no more than others, and ar e swift, 
superior , sure. See local agent or write us. I* ree 1 ocket Memo Booklet 
containing valuable crop information on application. 
Swift’s Lowell Fertilizer Co., 40 North Market St., Boston, Mass. 
Corn asa Money Crop 
Forade for Rough Feed 
ipP$r for the Soil 
f hyi [CyJkc {1401 The host farmers of New England 
EV&hllKt SKr* and the Eastern States have fol- 
* lowed this rule, under a proper 
wOFli lM ~ rota *'* on of crops, and have pros- 
Tvj 1] Yf\ J/ pered. lheyhavousedgood.de- 
VII IXb 'J ///// pendable seed, of course, as the 
’ y / /VO first essential. Such farmers have 
ftf/UU /f An been happy and contented, living 
V -yUvilr well ana ‘laying by.” Their 
fir / farms have increased in fertility 
M v / / and value each year—their ex- 
* v ' porience shows clearly how to 
A\aKetheEarmPay 
?( This kind of man will feed his 
M' 1 FI 80 ‘' as carefully as liis live stock. 
£ fOh lh IT STli He will grow crops that not only 
BP W il' yield an immediate return but 
Ui fl 7 Uj 9 leave the land better than before. 
T 'A HXt ^ l' vo 8 took will have blood and 
-L rfjr breeding and ho will farm on a busi- 
dh t Jl ness-like basis. The seed he sows will 
45 jSJj have pedigree, also; long ago this type of 
Itt j" man learned that it is poor economy to 
’ jST plant any other, and the result is that 
r farming pays better than it ever has. 
Ross Bros’ Good Seed 
Have an established reputation and 
„ v w » a have been bought and planted by 
‘tVcMVYv ’vf-’v man y farmers and gardeners for 
over twenty successive years, with 
uniformly good results. The lead- 
ing Ross specialties are corn and 
forage plants—we control the fam- 
ous F" reka Ensilage Corn—flower 
o vy and vegetable seeds, tools, fertili- 
zers, etc. The edition of our new 
toCjCi y~ TV catalogue is limited, but copies will 
ffw&S&S&Lw he mailed free to early applicants. 
Write today for this great book. 
ROSS BROS. COMPANY 
W. D. Ross, Prest. and Treas. 
' Box 13, Worcester, Mass. 
GOOD GRASS SEED 
If you care to have fields of hay that you 
can point to with pride you first will buy 
The Best Seed You Can Get. 
“ONONDAGA” TIMOTHY 
THE TIMOTHY THAT LEADS THEM ALL 
is the best timothy for you to sow. No 
other quite so clean, quite so bright, nor so 
plump. An Indian's head is on each bag. 
Send For Samples and Prices TODAY. 
We have fancy and choice lots of Alsike, Red 
Clover, Alfalfa, State Barley, etc., to offer 
at very reasonable prices. If you are in¬ 
terested in the best seeds at a moderate price 
you will write us. Our new catalog is free. 
The BATCHELOR SEED STORE, 
38 LAFAYETTE ST., UTICA, N. Y. 
D arke county early hi amiiotb 
SEED CORN, Irish Cobbler Seed Potatoes 
and all kinds of Clover Seed at wholesale or retail. 
Better get our prices on quantity. Catalogue free, 
MACE & MANSFIELD, Greenville, Ohio. 
FflD OAI C —Scarlet Clover Seed. $7.50 to $8.50 
rUn uMLLi bushel; lied Clover Seed, $7.50 to 
$8.50 bushel; Cow Peas, $2.25 to $2.50 bushel; 
Old Fashioned Buckwheat Flour, $11.00 per 100 
pounds; Onion Sets, $2.25 bushel; Alaska Peas, 
$3.50 bushel; Seed Potatoes, $3.50 bag. 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
Money in 
E arly Tomatoes 
Oneofmycnstomerssold 
$102.35 worth of big, red to¬ 
matoes from 100 plants In his 
back yard. Another from 14 plants in 
her flower garden, sold 312 lbs. during , 
1 July and August for $16.70. It’s all In 
the knowing how and In using the right ( 
seed. They U 60 d my new tomato— 
Field's Early June 
Earlier than Earliana, as hand tome ai Stone, as 
solid asPonderosa, and a greater yielder than 
any of them. The greatest new tomato in 25 
years. Small pkt., 20c; 3 for 50c; Yi or.. $1. 
(This for specially selected seed, saved 
early.) My Garden Manual and Seed 
Catalog will give lots of pointersand 
good advice about gardening It’s 
well worth reading. Get It andeee. 
Henry Field, Pres. 
HENRY FIELD SEED CO. 
Box 26 .Shenandoah, la. 
6 good Things 
For your garden 
from Stokes’ 1910 Seed Catalogue 
Stokes’ Bonny Best Early Tomato 
Finest and most prolific. Pkt. 10c; oz. 
Stokes’ Sugar Sweet Muskmelon 
Flavor that everyone wants. Pkt. lUc ;oz. 25c. 
Stokes’ Hardshell Kleckley Sweets Watermelon 
Finest watermelon ever known. Pkt. 10 e; 
oz. 20c. 
New Strawberry Lettuce 
Delicious. Interior, pink color. Pkt. 10c; 
oz. 25c. 
Stokes’ Standard Sweet Peas 
New orchid-flowering type. Pkt. 10e;oz. 20c. 
Stokes’ Standard Dwarf Nasturtiums 
Named varieties—prominent colors, l'kt. 10c; 
oz. 15c. 
All for 25 rpnt<5 —,,lx 100 p«okct»—if 
/vil lur La ceil IS y OU write today, enclos¬ 
ing 25c either in silver or stamps and mention 
The Rural New-Yorker. 1 will also send 
free my new catalogue. 
Wultpf P ^tnkec Dept. I., 219 Market 
Hdlier r. iaiUKCS, street, Phlindelphlu. 
Stokes'Standard SEEDS 
N. WERTHEIMER & SONS 
offer their choice selections of all kinds of seeds 
such as Clovers, Alfalfa, White Clover, Crimson 
Clover. Red Top, Blue Grass, Hairy Vetches, 
Orchard Grass and all kinds of grain and field 
seeds, which we buy direct from the farming com¬ 
munity and sell direct to the farmer. Prices and 
samples on application. We deliver seeds, freight 
prepaid, to nearest railroad station. 
N. WERTHEIMER & EONS, Ligonier, Ind. 
Seed Sweet Potatoes. 
Wahrheim Farm Strain; bright, gold¬ 
en, chunky; very productive; $1.00 per 
hush., $2.50 per bbl. Order for plants 
booked now, $1.50 per M. Sample liy 
mail, 5c. Description and photo free. 
GEO. H. LIE PE, 
Cologne, N. J. 
Qrrnc at one-half 
WKabl/W City Seedsmen Prices S 
I different. 
I SQUARE 
I countr 
U— 
country or city. 
a nxmiBTU.iU i .V ai i-t, , t L e t us sen <j you our catalog of seeds==It’s 
It tells you facts, and why we can save you money, and give you a guaranteed 
DEAL. Just drop a postal today and see the difference in buying your seeds in 
FORREST SEED CO., Box 34. Cortland, N.Y. 
